The State of the Canadian Transportation Industry in 2023
The Canadian Transportation Industry is alive and well, in spite of minor fluctuations due to global economic changes. With a country as vast as Canada with the population extremely sparse, especially as we move north of the 49th, the transportation industry is the life-line of our economy.
While “trains and boats and planes” supply some of the need, links between these and manufacturer or customer can be very long, links that the trucking industry provides. Trucks provide freight transfer for imports and exports as well as in-country movement.
Changes in global dynamics, such as unrest in the Middle East, piracy near key ports, environmental disasters such as drought, natural disasters such as earthquakes that disrupt trade, fiscal disasters such as the present situation in Greece, and localized armed conflicts have chain reaction ramifications in what is now a global economy. The cost and availability of petroleum products have major effects on the transportation industry.
On the other hand, the development of drought resistant crops and hybrid produce, and improving conditions in developing countries that enhance their viability as trade partners have favourable effects on industries providing transportation of goods.
In the long run, there is no foreseeable end to the need for movement of consumer goods, and the transportation industry is well positioned to meet the needs. Those trains, boats, planes and trucks appear to be here for a good long while.
Newest Improvements in Transport Trucks
In order to remain cutting edge in the Canadian transportation industry, companies such as Titan are constantly looking at ways to improve the performance and safety features of their fleet. There are several benefits of such advances; increased safety of truckers, shipments, and motorists boosts the confidence of customers and trucking companies alike; improvements in technologies that reduce fuel consumption allow companies to offer their services at competitive rates; lower fuel usage also ensures responsible care of the environment due to lower emissions.
Several improvements are available now and many truckers are already reaping the benefits of some, such as:
- Improvements in Aerodynamics. There are three zones around a transport truck that “trap” eddies of air and increase drag on the vehicle. These are located above the cab in front of the trailer, beneath the trailer, and directly behind the trailer. Newer trucks may be manufactured with built-in aerodynamic design to reduce the drag in these areas. However, even older vehicles can be retrofitted with upgrades called “fairings”, which are strategically attached to the cabin or trailer. Roof deflectors, trailer skirts, and cabin extenders are examples of these. Decreasing the drag increases fuel efficiency.
- Anti-Idle Devices. Idling truck engines to keep the cabin warm or cool and keep the engine block warm consumes a fair chunk of fuel. There are a couple devices now which replace this. One is a direct-fired heater, which serves the same purpose, while reducing consumption by 75%. An even more advanced mechanism is an auxiliary power unit (APU), a generator that completely replaces the need for idling for cabin heating and cooling. It will operate on either diesel fuel when idling, or batteries when the truck is stopped.
- Decreased Rolling Resistance. Rolling resistance refers to the force needed to move the tire forward; this alone accounts for about 25% of the energy required to keep a truck in motion. Tire manufactures are constantly researching ways to reduce this factor. Alternate tire tread patterns can make a significant difference, but a more recent product is wide-base tires. These are extra wide, and one can replace double tires. Fuel consumption is reduced due to decreased weight, better aerodynamics, and decreased rolling resistance.
As we look toward the future, experimental technologies that have proven effective in small cars will inevitably become available to trucks as well. Electric vehicles and those that operate on natural gas will give the environment a breath of fresh air, and our pocket books a welcome break. As a leader in the Canadian transportation industry, Titan is committed to offering the best solutions for all of your trucking needs. Check them out for a job estimate, and watch for innovation in their fleet as leaders in the industry.